With all but one precinct reporting, Cobb Commission incumbents, Democrat Annette Kesting and four-term Republican Joe Lee Thompson were beaten by their party challengers.

The winners -- Republican Bob Ott in the East Cobb, Smyrna-Vinings district and Democrat Woody Thompson in the southwest Cobb district –- both face opposition in the fall, but start from strength because they represent the majority party in their districts.

Ott beat Joe Thompson by slightly less than 2 to 1.

"It feels good. I didn't think the numbers would be that big of a spread," said Ott, who received a concession call from Joe Thompson shortly before 10 p.m.

A Delta pilot, Ott leaves the campaign trail and flies to Alaska Wednesday afternoon. "I can not wait. A layover on Thursday," he said.

Woody Thompson ousted Kesting by more than 2 to 1.

"I felt good about the tremendous support we got," said Thompson, who held the southwest Cobb seat for two terms as a Republican but lost to Kesting in the general election four years ago.

Woody Thompson faces Republican Barbara Hickey next, while Ott sees Democrat James Royal.

Ott, who had been Joe Thompson's appointment on the zoning and planning commissions, ran neck and neck with Thompson in a three-way Republican primary in which neither could claim outright victory.

Ron Sifen, who carried two precincts in Thompson's backyard as the third candidate last month, supported Ott this time.

Republican voters also finalized their choice for the school board post in Northeast Cobb. David Banks carries the standard in the traditional Republican stronghold against Democrat Linda Schwartz in the fall election.

Both County Commission incumbents had a trail of political or personal difficulties.

Kesting has experienced a series of personal financial problems that include being late on real estate taxes, bouncing a check for $350 to pay a fine for not cutting the grass at three duplexes she owns in Powder Springs — she made the check good — and owing $810 in fines on the same properties.

Joe Thompson, who outpolled Ott by 349 votes in the party primary, angered some east Cobb residents when his campaign potentially jeopardized the nonprofit status of the Friends for East Cobb Park by using its e-mail list for political purposes.

Also, an ethics in government watchdog asked Cobb to determine whether Thompson violated state ethics standards when he legally obtained county-controlled e-mail databases and used them for political mailings. The complaint has not yet been heard.